The Packers were determined to score some goals Thursday night at Riverside Arena and they did, posting a 6-2 win over New Ulm (5-9).

Friday, January 07, 2000

The Packers were determined to score some goals Thursday night at Riverside Arena and they did, posting a 6-2 win over New Ulm (5-9).

The Packers plangent offense was led by Rhianna Jacobs and Bobee Jo Lang. Jacobs had the hat trick and also assisted on two goals.

Lang assisted on two of Jacobs goals and scored one goal herself. Jacobs is in the top 10 in scoring in the state. She has 17 goals and 18 assists so far this season. Lang has put the puck by the goaltender 16 times this year and has seven assists.

"Lang is our offensive defensive player," Austin coach Denny Bray said. "She brings the puck up the ice and takes the shots, sort of like Bobby Orr."

It was, however, Jessica Petersen who got things going for Austin.

She stuffed in a rebound of a wrap-around attempt by Jacobs just over a minute into the game. Jacobs then made it 2-0 two minutes later on an unassisted goal.

New Ulm then started to make things interesting with a power play goal half way through the period.

"We had a defensive lapse," Bray said. "We usually have a forward back on our penalty kill but there wasn’t one there. We were hungry for goals. They broke in 3-on-1 on Bobee. She’s a good defender but she’s not that good."

After 15 minutes of skating the Packers led 2-1.

Austin also got the first goal of the second period. It was set up by a shot from the point from a different Austin defender, Kellie Petersen. Her shot was stopped by the New Ulm goalie but not covered up. Melissa Dickhut pounced on the loose puck and put it home.

New Ulm then cut the lead to one again about ten minutes into the period. The Eagles had control of the puck in the Austin zone for over a minute, peppering Katie Fedoryk with shots. Shelly Gramentz finally flipped the puck over Fedoryk’s stick shoulder for the goal.

The goal made Austin that much more determined. Two minutes later it was Jacobs deflecting a shot from the face off circle by Lang for a goal. Then a minute later Lang sent Jacobs in on a rush. Jacobs split the two New Ulm defenders at the blue line, deeked out the goalie with a move to the right and put it in the net.

"I think a I caught them flat-footed, I just flew right by down the middle," Jacobs said. "I still haven’t recovered fully from breaking my ankle last summer. It still is sore every day, but I’m skating better every day. The team is also skating better together. I missed not having Bobee out there the other night. It was nice to have her back. We hook up with each other pretty well."

Lang then scored an insurance goal in the third period. Play was a little chippy with Austin picking up a few penalties but they killed them all off.

"We are about 85 percent on our penalty kill," Bray said.

Austin (7-8, 4-3) returns to Big Nine play on Tuesday when it hosts Albert Lea.

"We play a lot better against Albert Lea at home," Jacobs said. "I’m looking forward to the game."

Austin 6, New Ulm 2

First period – Jessica Petersen, 1:02 (Rhianna Jacobs assist) Austin 1-0; Jacobs, 3:22 (unassisted) Austin 2-0; Ashley Dietz pp 6:37 (Stacy Gramentz). Austin 2-1.

Second period – Melissa Dickhut (Kellie Petersen) Austin 3-1; Shelly Gramentz, 9:49 (Nikki Williams) Austin 3-2; Jacobs 12:03 (Bobee Jo Lang) Austin 4-2; Jacobs 13:28 (Lang). Austin 5-2.

Third period: Lang pp 7:01 (Jacobs). Austin 6-2.

Saves: Katie Fedoryk (Austin) 8-8-5-21, Angie Weisensel (New Ulm) 8-12-6-26.

Boys’ hoops

LeRoy-Ostrander victorious

The Cardinals played some tough inside defense and got a clutch jumper from freshman Ben Adams to beat the Rebels in LeRoy. The Cardinals held the Rebels to three points in the fourth quarter but still trailed 37-36 with 40 seconds remaining. Southland had the ball but turned it over.

"Adams then just nailed a 14-foot jump shot," Southland coach Greg Storey said.

The final LeRoy-Ostrander 38, Southland 37.

The Cardinals have now won three in a row after dropping their first six games. They are 2-0 in the Southeast Conference West Division tied with Fillmore Central. Southland meanwhile has dropped four straight and is 4-5 overall 0-2 in the Conference.

LeRoy went out 26-17 over the first 16 minutes of play. Southland then scored 17 in the third quarter to take a 34-32 lead.

"We made some shots in the third quarter," Storey said, "but didn’t the rest of the game. The game is to put the ball in the basket. We didn’t do that. We were 10-of-40 for 25 percent. We just can’t put the ball in the hoop. We only gave up four field goals in the second half and we couldn’t pull off the win."

Justin Stevens was the leading scorer for LeRoy with 17 points with two treys. Chad Orum scored nine and Dan Bucknell seven with two threes. For Southland it was Gabe Peterson cracking double figures with 10 points. Matt Decker, Scott Schammel and Syd Schramm each scored seven. Peterson and Schramm each had two threes and big man Schammel hit one.

LeRoy hosts Kingsland next Tuesday while Southland hopes the third time is the charm for a Conference win when they host Grand Meadow.

Fillmore Central 92,

Grand Meadow 73

The Superlarks played their best game of the season and got some spectacular scoring from Brandon Stier. It just wasn’t enough against perennial Southeast Conference power Fillmore Central.

Brandon Stier was all over the court scoring 35 points. He made three threes and hit ten free throws.

"It was the first time this year that he really stepped it up," Grand Meadow coach Steve Grinnell said. "He made some outside shots, some layups, and some quick stop jumpers. He was hitting from everywhere."

Stier’s heroics weren’t quite enough. The Falcons were only up 48-40 at the half in the game at Grand Meadow. They increased the lead to 13 by the end of 24 minutes of play, 69-56.

"The score doesn’t reflect the closeness of the game." Grinnell said. "We hustled and worked hard and had an excellent first half."

Rick Daly scored 23 for the Falcons and Adam Denny 19. Ben Thorsen hit for 15, Robb Lubenow for 11, and Randy Breitbarth for eight for the Superlarks.